Flyers plan to play smart road hockey
The Flyers, trying to make up ground in the wild-card race, will be fortunate to play in Montreal on Friday night and not face standout goalie Carey Price.
The Flyers, trying to make up ground in the wild-card race, will be fortunate to play in Montreal on Friday night and not face standout goalie Carey Price.
Again.
This is the third time the Flyers are meeting the Canadiens, all without Price, the league's reigning MVP. He got off to a 10-2 start this season with a 2.06 goals-against average and .934 save percentage.
When Price went down with a suspected knee injury in late November, the Canadiens were 17-4-2.
Since then, they are 10-23-2.
The Flyers entered Thursday four points out of a playoff spot and two points ahead of Montreal. They have two games in hand on the Canadiens and have defeated the Habs, 4-3, and 4-2, this season.
The Flyers, bolstered by changes to three of their lines, erupted for a 6-3 win in New Jersey on Tuesday and are trying to build off that victory. After playing in Montreal, they visit Toronto on Saturday.
"Our top line was carrying a big load, but if we can spread it around, it'll definitely help us in the next few weeks," said winger R.J. Umberger, who aided the new-look second line with two assists on Tuesday.
Heading into the weekend, the Flyers have 26 games remaining.
"For us, every single game is important," winger Jake Voracek said after practice Thursday in Voorhees. "We cannot afford to lose any points. . . . It might help that we're playing Montreal and Toronto on the road because when we play them at home we try to show off something. We try to make the extra play and try to make the extra pass. When you go on the road, we try to keep it simple, [so] this might help us."
"We need to play smart road hockey and stay out of the [penalty] box," said goalie Michal Neuvirth, who is 4-1-1 in his last six starts but may serve as Steve Mason's backup Friday. "If we do that, I think we're going to be good."
Montreal has lost three straight.
"We're playing against a team that is in a similar situation as us; they're in the hunt for a playoff spot," coach Dave Hakstol said. "You don't have to look at the standings too long to know that every night is critical."
Montreal canceled its practice Thursday, and it will use either Ben Scrivens (3.00 goals-against average, .901 save percentage) or Mike Condon (2.60, .900) in goal Friday.
Breakaways
Former Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen received some personal attention Thursday from President Obama at the White House. Timonen, who is retired and living in Haddonfield, and his Chicago Blackhawks teammates, coaches, and club personnel were honored for winning the Stanley Cup last season. Obama called Timonen and goalie Scott Darling "two unsung heroes." He praised Timonen for his great career and overcoming blood clots before joining the Hawks last season.
The Flyers' power play is 3 for 7 against the Canadiens this season, and their penalty kill is 7 for 8. . . . Hakstol on rookie center Nick Cousins, who has four points in his last six games: "Whenever the puck is on his tape, he's one of those players where usually something positive happens." . . . Cousins grew up near Toronto, but his parents will be vacationing in Jamaica and won't attend Saturday's game. "They'll be sitting on the beach. I have lots of family and friends coming, though," he said.
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